International pickup has some modern hidden features

Monday

Dec 4, 2017 at 2:00 AMDec 4, 2017 at 8:32 AM

Donna Kessler Times Herald-Record

The International Harvester K and KB series are trucks that were produced by International Harvester. They are best known for their durability. The followup to the K, the KB, was introduced in 1947, with the characteristic difference being a widened lower grill. Between 1947 and 1949, 122,000 KB-1 and KB-2 trucks were sold. The KB series was later replaced by the L-series.

Ken Kuta of Honesdale, Pa., knows the special features of this truck all too well. When he was a youngster, there was this 1947 International pickup KB2 model sitting three miles down the road from his house and he had that truck in his sights.

That was then. Four years ago, Kuta, now 47, and his son, Taylor, now 15, towed the truck home and turned it into one amazing father and son project. Kuta and and his son did all the work themselves. He has been tinkering with automotive stuff all his life.

To look at this truck, one would think that this is a fine unrestored International, but it is actually a resto mod of sorts.

The body of the truck rests on a 1999 S10 chassis. It has air conditioning, power steering and power brakes, all the conveniences to make it the ultimate driver while maintaining the patina that it took on over time. “You just don’t see pickups like this in my area,” Kuta said. “There’s 70 years of history sitting there and there’s always something different on it every time I look at it.” Under the hood rests a 4.3 liter, V6 fuel motor.

Keeping with the style of this truck, Kuta wanted an interior that would complement it. That’s where Gilbert Monge, Linda Nilon and the crew from Gillin Auto Interiors came in.

The seats and door panels were done with King Ranch leather, the carpet is English wool Mercedes carpet. There is also a custom console and kick panels to finish it off.

This truck is really a sweet ride. Just a turn of the key and it starts right up.

-dkessler@th-record.com

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